Canes' Game Day in Calgary

Well, it's been a week since the Hurricanes last played a game, a 4-3 loss on the road in Kelowna, but again the most interesting news happened off the ice. On Wednesday, the Hurricanes and Tri-City Americans pulled off a 5-player deal, that saw high scoring forward Mitch Fadden as well as defencemen Brock Sutherland and Cam Stevens heading to the State of Washington and in return the Canes' getting back D-man Eric Mestery and Forward Drew Hoff. I like this trade and this is why. To me and a lot of others it was obvious Lethbridge needed to address it's defensive issues. Even GM Roy Stasiuk said in the press release that the team's "biggest need right now is a top four defenceman". Sending Fadden the other way shouldn't come as a shocker. There's no doubt Lethbridge is losing a huge scoring threat with Fadden, but this is a case where you have to give up something good to get something good in return. The Canes' have addressed their defence issue adding Mestery and with Hoff they get a little work horse and a player that will add some energy to the line-up. Lethbridge is more than fine up front with a lot of scoring power with likes of guys like Boychuk, Sceviour, Ashton, Bancks, and King. They had to give up some scoring to shore up the 'D'. It's funny how a few changes here and there though can ignite a team. We'll see if it happens in this case.

The Canes' added once more player yesterday, calling up Lethbridge product Max Ross on defence from the Olds Grizzlies of the AJHL. Roy Stasiuk always seems to have a nose for talent and finding quality players. Again, it appears he found what he was looking forin Mestery and Hoff and now the addition of the young Ross. Tonight we'll get our first look at these players in a Hurricanes uniform as Lethbridge plays in Calgary.

This is the 4th meeting between these two rivals this season. Calgary has won all 3 games. This is also the 3rd and last time the Canes' play at the Saddledome this year, barring a meeting in the playoffs. One of those little quirks in the schedule I guess. The 9 and 8 Hurricanes are looking to bounce back from losses in Kelowna and Kamloops last weekend. They've had a whole week to rest up any injuries, a few days to practice with Mestery and Hoff, and time to look over video and try and find a way to solve the Hitmen!

Game time tonight from Calgary is 7 o'clock. The pre-game show on CJOC at 6:30.